The Arts$WChallenge, a Public/Private Matching Grant Program Administered by ArtsWestchester, Raises $526,158 in Private Support for Arts & Culture

(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester County Board of Legislators today joined with ArtsWestchester, to announce 45 Westchester arts organizations who are the recipients of matching funds from the Art$WChallenge grant program. This matching grant program, made possible with $200,000 of Westchester County support, provides much-needed funding for arts and culture in Westchester County.

In total, the 45 arts organizations raised $526,158 in new private funds through the 2018 Art$WChallenge program. Together with the matching County funds, the program successfully leveraged a total of $726,158 for arts and culture in Westchester.

County Executive George Latimer said: “The Art$WChallenge program administered by ArtsWestchester is a powerful example of a forward-thinking public/private partnership that pays dividends for the economy. Since the inception of the Art$WChallenge in 2007, a total of $5,467,804 in private and public monies have been raised and invested in Westchester County’s cultural industry. This investment makes good sense when you consider that on an annual basis, arts and culture add $172.3 million in total economic activity to Westchester.”

Chairman of the Board of Legislators Ben Boykin said: “Dance, music, theater and the visual arts are essential to our quality of life, so I’m pleased that the Administration, the Board of Legislators and ArtsWestchester are continuing this matching grant program. Through this partnership, we support deserving artists and organizations, improve access to the arts for residents across the County and help ArtsWestchester leverage County backing to obtain additional private funding. That’s a win for everybody. Congratulations to all the wonderful grant recipients this year.”

Janet T. Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester said: “On behalf of ArtsWestchester, I would like to thank Westchester County and the Board of Legislators for spearheading a program that over twelve years has raised more than $3.6 Million in private funding for the arts community.”

The following 45 arts organizations were awarded matching grants as listed through ArtsWestchester’s 2018 Art$WChallenge program: